Ultimate Christmas Bucket List: For A Fun Holiday Season

There’s something magical about this time of year. The holiday season brings twinkle lights, warm drinks, and the promise of festive fun with the whole family. If you’ve been looking for the perfect way to make this the most wonderful time of the year, this ultimate Christmas bucket list is filled with ideas that work for all ages, from little kids to adults who still love a cozy night by the Christmas tree. Whether you want fun activities, heartfelt traditions, or just an easy way to enjoy the winter months, this list can help you plan your most meaningful Christmas yet.
You can download all of the FREE PRINTABLES at the end of the post!
There was something so magical when our kids were young and still “believed.” Although they are all grown, we keep the same traditions every year of building gingerbread houses, visiting the Hotel Del in Coronado, watching a Christmas movie, and looking at Christmas lights! 

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Decorate the Christmas tree

Nothing says Christmas season like gathering family members in the living room to decorate the tree with candy canes, homemade gifts, paper snowflakes, and little traditions you look forward to each year. It’s a great way to kick off the festive season and be with your favorite people.

Sip hot chocolate or hot cocoa on cozy nights

A warm, hot drink is the perfect excuse to slow down. Add sugar cookies or gingerbread house decorating for even more fun holiday activities. Bonus points if everyone wears matching Christmas pajamas.

Build a gingerbread house

This is one of those fun things that reminds us why this is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s messy, creative, and so much fun for the whole family.

Play Christmas music all season long

Make a holiday playlist filled with your favorite Christmas movies’ soundtracks, Christmas caroling classics, and tunes that bring instant Christmas cheer.

Go see Christmas lights

Find the best places in your town for a glowing night drive or stroll. Local displays are a great time for festive fun, especially with a hot chocolate in hand.  We string our lights across to our neighbor’s house, and most of our street does, it’s so pretty at night.

Have a Christmas movie marathon

Cozy movie nights are one of the best ways to enjoy the holiday season. Watch favorite holiday movies like Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, or anything snowy enough to count as a white Christmas. It’s also the perfect time to introduce a new Christmas story to little kids.

Visit a local Christmas market

A local Christmas market is the perfect way to find handmade or homemade gifts, enjoy holiday cheer, and soak in the Christmas spirit. There are always festive ideas, fun activities, and holiday treats everywhere you turn.  We just went to the Encinitas Street Fair, which was so much fun over the weekend. 

Bake Christmas cookies

Bake cookies like sugar cookies or gingerbread men, and let family members decorate them. It’s a great idea to package extra cookies as handwritten notes and treats for a neighbor or a local shelter.

Peppermint Oreo Truffle Recipe

Do random acts of kindness

Fill your holiday bucket list with giving. A toy drive, donating to a local food bank, or surprising someone with small handwritten notes are great ideas to spread holiday cheer in different ways. This is also a great lesson to teach kids kindness at a early age.

Make an Advent calendar

This fun activity builds excitement for Christmas morning. You can fill each day with fun holiday activities, a Christmas story, or tiny surprises for little kids.

Try ice skating

Winter months are the perfect time to bundle up for ice skating. It’s a great way to add active Christmas activities to your schedule and enjoy a bit of nostalgic holiday fun.

Host a holiday party or family game night

Gather family members and friends for a festive evening. A themed ugly Christmas sweater night, secret Santa, or family tradition game night is always a hit. I have a bunch of free printables if you would like to host a Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

 

Craft homemade gifts

If you want a better way to save on Christmas shopping while keeping things personal, homemade gifts are the perfect gift idea. They’re from the heart and mean so much more than something rushed at the last minute.

Epsom Salt Ornaments

Send Christmas cards

Writing and mailing cards is a classic tradition that fills the season with connection. Add a favorite photo from last year or a sweet message for an extra warm touch.

 

This is the perfect time to come up with something meaningful that your family can repeat every Christmas season. It could be baking sugar cookies together, watching your favorite Christmas movies, visiting the same Christmas lights display, or reading Christmas books before bed. Little traditions become lifetime memories.

The festive season is full of great ideas, fun activities, and the perfect ways to celebrate your favorite holiday movies, treats, and cozy nights. With this ultimate Christmas bucket list, you’ll have plenty of fun holiday activities to make this year even better than the last.

How to Download

All of the free printables can be downloaded by simply clicking on each template. Once the template shows up in a new window, click the Download button at the top of the screen. Once the document is downloaded, it should open via Adobe Reader and can be printed and used as many times as you wish. Personal Use Only Please.

 

If you would like to create your own list, you can download each printable below and handwrite your list. You could also upload it to Canva and add your list. 

I know not everyone has color ink, so you can cut and copy the list below if you would like. 

Christmas Bucket List

• Decorate the Christmas tree with a new ornament

• Visit a local holiday lights display

• Watch a classic Christmas movie marathon

• Bake Christmas cookies from scratch

• Make homemade hot cocoa with extra marshmallows

• Go ice skating or visit a winter village

• Build a gingerbread house (or an entire gingerbread village!)

• Do a random act of kindness for a stranger

• Host a cozy Christmas craft night

• Make DIY ornaments with family or friends

• Drive around to see neighborhood lights

• Have a Christmas pajama day with holiday treats

• Donate toys, coats, or blankets to a local charity

• Wrap gifts while listening to holiday music

• Take festive family or pet photos

• Make peppermint-scented stovetop potpourri

• Write and mail Christmas cards

• Make a holiday recipe you’ve never tried before

• Have a Christmas game night

• Enjoy a quiet night with the tree lights on and a warm drink

How about you? What are some of your favorite things to do during the holiday season?